WSPC00797 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

.....itll... 7'c-,.\f.l. Gunnison River put on endangered list , I 'ed gered Rivers report warns of an Black Canyon dea ctt imn.,ndL"g "!otcr righG giveaway. 0,; April 2, the Department of the Interior beat conservationists to the punch-annonncing that it has agreed to the State of Colorado's demands to reduce the federal claim to water flow for the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Environmental agencies including American Rivers and the local High Country Citizens' Alliance say that the decision sacri- fices the ecological integrity of the Black Canyon National Park to provide water for sprawl develop- ment on Colorado's Front Range, "The Department Df the InteriDr folded like a cheap umbrel- la in a strong wind," said Rebecca R. Wodder, president of American Rivers. "They are sacrificing the roar Df the Gunnison River through the Black Canyon fDr the roar of traffic through the Front Range," continued on page 13 I The Gunnison River was recently named one of the nation's Most Endangered Rivers for 2003 by American Rivers, a national non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and restoring rivers to healthy conditions, The endan- gered status comes on the heels of the Black Canyon water rights agreement between the State of Colorado and the United Stales Department of Interior that opens the door for potential future diver- SiDns of Western Slope water to the Front Range, Each yeal; American Rivers solicits nominations from thousands of river groups, envi- rorunentil organizations, outdoor clubs, and taxpayer watchdogs for the America's Most Endangered Rivers report Finalized for release on April 10, the America's Most Endan- f~ 1, ~, Gunnison River listed as -one of nation's "Most Endangered" continued from page 1 Interior Department officials have indicated that they will claim much less water than the park is entitled to and will subor- dinate the park's water rights claim to irrigators and munici- palities'with more junior rights. Warning that this case is an important precedent,. conserva~ tion .groups are 'reviewing their options fDr legal challenges to the decision. The outcome of the Black Canyon National Park water rights proceedings will. set precedent for dozens of national parks, foresls, wildlife refuges, and Indian reservations in the West with reserved rights that have yet to be quantified. "The Department of the' Interior must not sacrifice the Park's wa-ter rights based on speculative future uses by oth- ers," said Bart Miller with the Land and Water Fund of the Rockies. oa1791